Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1922-1963 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.486 cubic metres (15 boxes, 12 volumes, 1 folder)
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Gregynog Press/Gwasg Gregynog Management Committee was established at the Council meeting of November 1973 to oversee the re-establishment and subsequent management of the press at Gregynog, Montgomeryshire, (following its demise in 1963), and the publishing of R.S. Thomas' Laboratories of the Spirit, printed by the University's Printing Fellow. It included representatives of the Press Board and of the Gregynog Committee. The Press is one of the leading publishers of traditionally made fine books in the UK providing design, typesetting, printing and binding services for individuals and national institutions.
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Gregynog Press was established by Margaret and Gwendoline Davies, of Gregynog Hall, Montgomeryshire, in 1922. The private press produced forty-five titles between 1923 and 1941. Many were in Welsh, or had Welsh connections, including The life of Saint David, Selected poems of Edward Thomas and Gweledigaetheu y Bardd Cwsc. The Press also produced other material, including Christmas cards, programmes and prospectuses. Dr Thomas Jones was the first editor for the Press. Horace Bray was employed as resident artist, and Robert Maynard was the original controller of the Press until 1930; between 1936-1940, James Wardrop was the controller. During the Second World War, the Gregynog Press ceased production, and although the house was still used for conferences and festivals, it did not resume printing. It ceased as a business in 1963. In 1960 Gregynog Hall was sold to the University of Wales.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited 1963, apart from items formerly in the collection of James Wardrop, purchased in 1990 and 1991. Further papers were transferred in 1995, source unknown and from the British Library per the Curator of Musical Manuscripts, 2002.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Gregynog Press, 1902-1963, mainly 1922-1940, including accounts, 1922-1963; correspondence, 1924-1954; documents relating to published works, 1923-1940; documents relating to books printed for private circulation, 1929-1938, documents relating to unpublished works, 1932-1936; ephemera, 1927-1962; prospectuses and catalogues of printing firms, exhibitions, booksellers, 1926-1940; miscellaneous papers, 1917-1954, and photographs, 1902-1924; and draft designs and illustrations, [c. 1930s].
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records purchased by and deposited at the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged into the following: accounts and business records; correspondence; published volumes; books printed for private circulation; projected but unpublished books; ephemera; draft designs and illustrations; prospectuses and catalogues; miscellaneous papers.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright regulations apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available at the National Library of Wales.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Harrop, Dorothy A., A History of the Gregynog Press (Pinner, 1980).
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
February 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: NLW, Schedules of the Gregynog Press archives, vols. 1 and 2; Dictionary of Welsh Biography, 1941-1970 (London, 2001), Harrop, Dorothy, A., A History of the Gregynog Press (Pinner, 1980).